Information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to an information processing apparatus which allows users to easily know content which others are allowed to check out. A management server  352  records data relevant to content which others are allowed to check out. A web server  351  receives a request for the data relevant to the content, and transmits the data relevant to the content when the data relevant to the content is requested. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus for handling data relevant to copyright protected content.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus,and particularly to an information processing apparatus for handlingdata relevant to copyright protected content.

BACKGROUND ART

Personal computers and portable devices for handling copyright protectedcontent are used.

A personal computer having content recorded therein is able to check outcopyright protected content to a portable device based on the right ofcheckout.

The portable device is carried for use, and plays back the checked outcontent at a desired location.

As far as the copyright allows, content can be checked out to a portabledevice of another user so that the user can use the checked out content.

However, except for an approach such as inquiring acquaintancesfrequently, it is impossible to know the presence or details of contentwhich others are allowed to check out.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and itis an object of the present invention to allow users to easily knowcontent which others are allowed to check out.

An information processing apparatus of the present invention includesfirst recording control means for controlling recording of data relevantto content which others are allowed to check out; first receptioncontrol means for controlling reception of a request for the datarelevant to the content; and transmission control means for controllingtransmission of the data relevant to the content when the data relevantto the content is requested.

The first recording control means may control recording of the datarelevant to the content in which a checkout limit is set.

The information processing apparatus may further include secondrecording control means for controlling recording of billing informationfor a user who is one of the others; and billing process performingmeans for performing a process for charging the user based on therecorded billing information when the data relevant to the content istransmitted as requested from the user.

The information processing apparatus may further include secondrecording control means for controlling recording of the content; secondreception control means for controlling reception of a request to checkout the content; and checkout control means for controlling checkout ofthe recorded content when a checkout of the content is requested.

The second recording control means may control recording of the contentin which a checkout limit is set.

The information processing apparatus may further include third recordingcontrol means for controlling recording of billing information for auser; and billing process performing means for performing a process forcharging the user based on the recorded billing information when thedata relevant to the content is transmitted or the content istransmitted as requested from the user.

The information processing apparatus may further include third recordingcontrol means for controlling recording of a checkout history of thecontent.

An information processing method of the present invention includes arecording control step of controlling recording of data relevant tocontent which others are allowed to check out; a reception control stepof controlling reception of a request for the data relevant to thecontent; and a transmission control step of controlling transmission ofthe data relevant to the content when the data relevant to the contentis requested.

A program in a program storage medium of the present invention includesa recording control step of controlling recording of data relevant tocontent which others are allowed to check out; a reception control stepof controlling reception of a request for the data relevant to thecontent; and a transmission control step of controlling transmission ofthe data relevant to the content when the data relevant to the contentis requested.

A program of the present invention causes a computer to execute arecording control step of controlling recording of data relevant tocontent which others are allowed to check out; a reception control stepof controlling reception of a request for the data relevant to thecontent; and a transmission control step of controlling transmission ofthe data relevant to the content when the data relevant to the contentis requested.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of acontent providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a personal computer 1.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the personal computer 1.

FIG. 4 is an external view of the personal computer 1.

FIG. 5 is an external view of the personal computer 1.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of thepersonal computer 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of aportable device 2.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of amemory card 3.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the functional structure of a server 5.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an exemplary screen displayed by a personalcomputer 1-2 when setting a checkout period.

FIG. 11 is a view showing exemplary conditions of use.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process for recording informationon content.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a checkout process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic check-in process forcontent performed by the portable device 2.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic check-in processperformed by the personal computer 1-2.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of thecontent providing system.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of aportable device 401.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment ofthe content providing system.

FIG. 20 is an external view of a camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 501.

FIG. 21 is an external view of the camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 501.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the configuration of thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a content checkout process.

FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment ofthe content providing system.

FIG. 25 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment ofthe content providing system.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the functional structure of a server 701.

FIG. 27 is a view showing an exemplary screen displayed by the personalcomputer 1-2 when content is moved to the server 701.

FIG. 28 is a view showing exemplary data indicating a log of checkouts.

FIG. 29 is a view showing exemplary data indicating the details ofcontent.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a content moving process.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a content checkout process.

FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment ofthe content providing system.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a content checkout process.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of acontent providing system according to the present invention.

A personal computer 1-1 issues a request to check out content, in whicha checkout period is set, to a personal computer 1-2 over a network 4such as the Internet or a local area network based on data indicatingthe details or location of the content provided from a server 5.

Content recorded in the personal computer 1-2, and checkout and check-inoperation are described below.

The personal computer 1-2 converts content which is music/sound datareceived from an EMD (electrical music distribution) server (not shown)connected to the network 4 or read from a CD (compact disc) or the likeinto predetermined compression format (for example, ATRAC3 (trademark))data, and also encodes the resulting data using an encryption techniquesuch as DES (data encryption standard) before recording the data.

The personal computer 1-2 records, in correspondence with the encodedand recorded content, conditions-of-use data which represents conditionsof use of the content.

The conditions-of-use data indicates, for example, the number ofportable devices (also referred to as “PDs”) 2 which can simultaneouslyuse the content corresponding to the conditions-of-use data (the numberof PDs which can so-called check out the content, as discussed below).Even when the content is checked out to the number of devices which isincluded in the conditions-of-use data, the personal computer 1-2 canplay back the content.

The conditions-of-use data also indicates that the content can becopied. There may be sometimes limits placed on the number of copies forthe content. In this case, the number of copies does not increase.

The conditions-of-use data also indicates that the content can be movedto another personal computer, a server, or the like. After being movedto another personal computer or a server, the content recorded in thepersonal computer 1-2 is not available (the content is deleted, or theconditions of use are modified to make the content unavailable).

Upon a request from the personal computer 1-1, the personal computer 1-2performs a so-called checkout process to cause the encoded and recordedcontent to be stored into a memory card 3 attached to the portabledevice 2 over the network 4 and via the personal computer 1-1 togetherwith data relevant to the content (for example, the title of a song,playback conditions, and so on) and to update the conditions-of-use datacorresponding to the stored content as the content is stored in thememory card 3.

More specifically, the number of checkouts allowed in theconditions-of-use data corresponding to the content recorded in thepersonal computer 1-2 decrements by one each time the content is checkedout. If the number of checkouts allowed is zero, the correspondingcontent cannot be checked out.

The personal computer 1-2 further performs a so-called check-in processto, as the content checked out to the memory card 3 by the personalcomputer 1-2 is erased by the portable device 2, update theconditions-of-use data corresponding to the erased content. Morespecifically, the number of checkouts allowed in the conditions-of-usedata corresponding to the content recorded in the personal computer 1-2increments by one each time the content is checked in.

The personal computer 1-1 transmits the content checked out from thepersonal computer 1-2 to the portable device 2 connected to the personalcomputer 1-1 via a USB (universal serial bus) or the like. The portabledevice 2 stores the content received from the personal computer 1-1 intothe memory card 3 attached thereto.

When the checkout period set in the conditions of use corresponding tothe content has passed, the portable device 2 erases the content storedin the memory card 3. A content erasing process performed by theportable device 2 based on the checkout period is also hereinafterreferred to as an automatic check-in process of the portable device 2.

The personal computer 1-2 sets a checkout period in the content recordedtherein, and transmits to the server 5 over the network 4 dataindicating the details of the content in which the checkout period isset, content ID of the content in which the checkout period is set, anddata indicating the location in which the content in which the checkoutperiod is set is stored. The data indicating the location in which thecontent is stored is constructed by, for example, URL (uniform resourcelocator), IP (Internet protocol) address, drive name, directory name,folder name, or the like.

The personal computer 1-2 increments the number of checkouts allowed byone when the checkout period set in the conditions of use correspondingto the content checked out to the memory card 3 has passed. A processfor incrementing the number of content checkouts allowed based on acheckout period which is performed by the personal computer 1-2 is alsohereinafter referred to as an automatic check-in process of the personalcomputer 1-2.

The server 5 records the data indicating the details of the content inwhich the checkout period is set, the content ID of the content in whichthe checkout period is set, and the data indicating the location inwhich the content in which the checkout period is set is stored, whichare received from the personal computer 1-2.

When the data relevant to the content is requested from the personalcomputer 1-1, the server 5 transmits to the personal computer 1-1 thedata indicating the details of the content in which the checkout periodis set, the content ID of the content in which the checkout period isset, and the data indicating the location in which the content in whichthe checkout period is set is stored, which are recorded in the server5.

The personal computer 1-1 displays the details of the content in whichthe checkout period is set based on the data indicating the details ofthe content in which the checkout period is set. Upon a user operationof selecting content to be checked out based on the displayed details,the personal computer 1-1 issues a content checkout request to thepersonal computer 1-2 based on the content ID of the content in whichthe checkout period is set and the data indicating the location in whichthe content in which the checkout period is set is stored.

If it is not necessary to individually identify the personal computers1-1 and 1-2, they are hereinafter referred to simply as a personalcomputer 1.

FIGS. 2 through 5 are external views of the personal computer 1constructing the content providing system according to the presentinvention. The personal computer 1 is basically formed of a body 21, anda display unit 22 which is openable and closable with respect to thebody 21. FIG. 2 is an external perspective of the personal computer 1,showing that the display unit 22 is open with respect to the body 21.FIG. 3 is a plan view of the body 21, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view ofa jog dial 23 described below which is disposed on the body 21. FIG. 5is a side view of the jog dial 23 disposed on the body 21.

A keyboard 24 operated to enter various characters or symbols, a touchpad 25 serving as a pointing device operated to move a pointer (mousecursor) displayed on an LCD (liquid crystal display) 26, and a powerswitch 27 are disposed on the top surface of the body 21. A jog dial 23,a slot 28, an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)1394 port 101, a memory card slot 115, and so on are disposed on a sidesurface of the body 21. A stick-type pointing device may be disposed inplace of the touch pad 25.

The LCD 26 for displaying an image is disposed on the front surface ofthe display unit 22. A power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lampML (not shown), if necessary, and other LED lamps are disposed on theupper right portion of the display unit 22. A microphone 66 is providedon the upper portion of the display unit 22.

The power lamp PL, the battery lamp BL, the message lamp ML, etc., maybe disposed on the lower portion of the display unit 22.

The jog dial 23 is mounted, for example, between keys A and B of thekeyboard 24 on the body 21, as indicated in the right portion of FIG. 3,so that the top surface of the jog dial 23 is substantially coplanar tothe keys A and B. The jog dial 23 performs predetermined processing (forexample, scrolls on a screen) when rotated as indicated by an arrow “a”in FIG. 4, and performs processing corresponding to a motion indicatedby an arrow “b” in FIG. 4 (for example, selects an icon).

The jog dial 23 may be placed on the left side surface of the body 21,or on the left or right side surface of the display unit 22incorporating the LCD 26, or may be placed in the longitudinalorientation between the “G” and “H” keys of the keyboard 24 (that is,the jog dial 23 is rotated either toward the “Y” or “B” key).

Alternatively, the jog dial 23 may be placed at the center on the frontsurface of the body 21 so as to allow a user to operate the jog dial 23using a thumb while operating the touch pad 6 using a forefinger. Thejog dial 23 may be placed in the lateral orientation along the upper orlower edge of the touch pad 6, or may be placed in the longitudinalorientation between the right and left buttons of the touch pad 6. Theorientation of the jog dial 23 is not limited to the longitudinal orlateral direction, and the jog dial 23 may be placed diagonally at apredetermined angle so as to allow a user to easily operate the jog dial23 using fingers. Alternatively, the jog dial 23 may be placed at aportion on a side surface of a mouse serving as a pointing device whichallows a user to operate the jog dial 23 using a thumb. The jog dial maybe implemented by a push switch-equipped rotary operating electronicpart disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.8-203387 filed by the present applicant and a co-applicant.

A PC card which is an extension card complying with the standardspecified by PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation) is inserted into the slot 28.

The IEEE 1394 port 101 has the structure complying with the standardspecified in IEEE 1394, and a cable complying with the standardspecified in IEEE 1394 is connected to the IEEE 1394 port 101.

The memory card slot 115 has an internal semiconductor memory such as aflash memory, and the memory card 3 which is a memory card, such as amemory stick (trademark), for storing data such as still image, motionpicture, audio, and text data is inserted into the memory card slot 115.

An example of the configuration of the personal computer 1 is describedbelow with reference to FIG. 6.

A central processing unit (CPU) 51 is implemented by, for example,Pentium (registered trademark) processor manufactured by IntelCorporation, and is connected to a host bus 52. A bridge (so-callednorth bridge) 53 is also connected to the host bus 52. The bridge 53 hasan AGP (accelerated graphics port) 50, and is connected to a PCI(peripheral component interconnect/interface) bus 56.

The bridge 53 is implemented by, for example, Intel 400BX which is anAGP host bridge controller manufactured by Intel Corporation, andcontrols data transmission of the CPU 51, a RAM (random-access memory)54 (so-called main memory), and the like. The bridge 53 also controlsdata transmission to/from a video controller 57 via the AGP 50. Thebridge 53 and a bridge (so-called south bridge (PCI-ISA bridge)) 58construct a so-called chip set.

The bridge 53 is also connected to a cache memory 55. The cache memory55 is implemented by a memory having the higher-speed write or readcapability than the RAM 54 such as an SRAM (static RAM), and caches(temporarily stores) programs or data used by the CPU 51.

The CPU 51 has an internal primary cache memory (which is constructed bya memory operable at a higher speed than the cache memory 55, and whichis controlled by the CPU 51 itself).

The RAM 54 is constructed by, for example, a DRAM (dynamic RAM), andstores data necessary for the program executed by the CPU 51 or foroperation of the CPU 51. Specifically, for example, the RAM 54 stores ane-mail program 54A, an auto pilot program 54B, a jog dial statemonitoring program 54C, a jog dial driver 54D, an operating program (OS)54E, a content management program 54F, a browser program 54G, and otherapplication programs 54H1 to 54Hn, which are loaded from an HDD 67 whena boot-up process is completed.

The e-mail program 54A is a program for exchanging a communicationmessage (so-called electronic mail or e-mail) over a communication line(not shown).

The auto pilot program 54B is a program for sequentially launching aplurality of predetermined processes (or programs) in a predeterminedorder for processing.

The jog dial state monitoring program 54C receives from each of theabove-noted application programs a notice indicating whether or not theapplication program is compatible with the jog dial 23, and causes theLCD 26 to display what is done by operating the jog dial 23 when theapplication program is compatible with the jog dial 23.

The jog dial state monitoring program 54C detects an event of the jogdial 23 (an operation in which the jog dial 23 is rotated in thedirection indicated by the arrow “a” in FIG. 4 or is pressed in thedirection indicated by the arrow “b” in FIG. 4) to execute the processcorresponding to the detected event. The jog dial state monitoringprogram 54C contains a list of the received notices from the applicationprograms. The jog dial driver 54D performs various functions accordingto the operation of the jog dial 23.

The OS (operating system) 54E is a program for controlling basicoperation of a computer, represented by, for example, so-called Windows(registered trademark) Me manufactured by Microsoft Corporation orso-called MacOS (trademark) manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc.

The content management program 54F manages availability includingplayback, checkout, and check-in of content stored in a content file 67Jrecorded in the HDD 67 based on conditions of use stored in acondition-of-use file 67M. The content management program 54F sets acheckout period in a user's area in the conditions of use stored in thecondition-of-use file 67M according to the operation of the keyboard 24or the touch pad 25.

When a checkout of content is requested from another personal computer,the content management program 54F checks out the content to thispersonal computer over the network 4.

When receiving content that is checked out from another personalcomputer, the content management program 54F supplies the checked outcontent to the portable device 2 via a USB port 107.

The browser program 54G causes the LCD 26 to display an image, acharacter, or the like based on data supplied from the server 5 over thenetwork 4, and causes a speaker 65 to plays back a sound. According tooperation of the keyboard 24 or the touch pad 25, the browser program54G transmits to the server 5 over the network 4 data indicating thedetails of the content in which the checkout period is set, content IDof the content in which the checkout period is set, and data indicatingthe location in which the content in which the checkout period is set isstored.

The video controller 57 is connected to the bridge 53 via the AGP 50,and receives data (image data, text data, or the like) supplied from theCPU 51 via the AGP 50 and the bridge 53 to generate image datacorresponding to the received data or to store the received data in aninternal video memory without modified. The video controller 57 causesthe LCD 26 of the display unit 22 to display an image corresponding tothe image data stored in the video memory.

A sound controller 64 is connected to the PCI bus 56. The soundcontroller 64 captures a signal corresponding to a sound from themicrophone 66 to generate data corresponding to the sound, and outputsthe data to the RAM 54; or the sound controller 64 drives the speaker 65so as to cause the speaker 65 to output the sound.

A PC card interface 111, which is connected to the PCI bus 56, suppliesdata supplied from an interface card 112 placed in the slot 28 to theCPU 51 or the RAM 54, and outputs data supplied from the CPU 51 to theinterface card 112. A drive 130 is connected to the PCI bus 56 via thePC card interface 111 and the interface card 112.

The drive 130 reads data recorded in a magnetic disc 121, optical disc122, magneto-optical disc 123, or semiconductor memory 124 attachedthereto, and supplies the read data to the RAM 54 via the PC cardinterface 111, the interface card 112, and the PCI bus 56.

A memory card interface 114, which is connected to the PCI bus 56,supplies, for example, content supplied from the memory card 3 placed inthe memory card slot 115 to the CPU 51 or the RAM 54, and outputs, forexample, content supplied from the CPU 51 to the memory card 3.

A modem 116 is connected to the PCI bus 56. The modem 116 transmitspredetermined data to the network 4 via a public telephone line 117 andan Internet service provider 118, and receives predetermined data fromthe network 4.

The bridge (so-called south bridge) 58 is also connected to the PCI bus56. The bridge 58 is implemented by, for example, Intel PIIX4E, andincludes an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller/configurationregister 59, a timer circuit 60, an IDE interface 61, a USB (universalserial bus) interface 68, and so on. The bridge 58 performs various I/O(input/output) controls such as control of devices connected to an IDEbus 62 or devices connected via an ISA/EIO (Industry StandardArchitecture/Extended Input Output) bus 63 or an I/O interface 69.

The IDE controller/configuration register 59 is formed of two IDEcontrollers, i.e., a so-called primary IDE controller and secondary IDEcontroller, a configuration register, and so on (these components arenot shown).

The HDD 67 is connected to the primary IDE controller via the IDE bus62. When a so-called IDE device (not shown) such as a CD-ROM drive or anHDD is connected to another IDE bus, the connected IDE device iselectrically connected to the secondary IDE controller.

The HDD 67 records an e-mail program 67A, an auto pilot program 67B, ajog dial state monitoring program 67C, a jog dial driver 67D, an OS 67E,a content management program 67F serving as an application program, abrowser program 67G, a plurality of other application programs 67H1 to67Hn, and so on. The e-mail program 67A, auto pilot program 67B, jogdial state monitoring program 67C, jog dial driver 67D, OS 67E, contentmanagement program 67F, browser program 67G, application programs 67H1to 67Hn, etc., recorded in the HDD 67 are sequentially supplied andloaded to the RAM 54 during a boot-up process.

The HDD 67 further records the condition-of-use file 67M containingconditions of use of the content, and the content file 67J containingthe content.

The USB interface 68 transmits data or commands to the connectedportable device 2 via the USB port 107, and receives data or commandsfrom the portable device 2 via the USB port 107.

The timer circuit 60 supplies data indicating the current time to theCPU 51 via the PCI bus 56 upon a request from the content managementprogram 67F. The content management program 67F is able to grasp theelapsed time and the like based on the data indicating the current timesupplied from the timer circuit 60.

The I/O interface 69 is also connected to the ISA/EIO bus 63. The I/Ointerface 69 is constructed by an embedded controller, and a ROM 70, aRAM 71, and a CPU 72 are connected with one another within the I/Ointerface 69.

The ROM 70 stores in advance an IEEE1394 interface program 70A, an LEDcontrol program 70B, a touch pad input monitoring program 70C, a keyinput monitoring program 70D, a wake-up program 70E, a jog dial statemonitoring program 70F, and so on.

The IEEE1394 interface program 70A transmits and receives data (datastored in a packet) complying with the standard specified in IEEE1394via the IEEE1394 port 101. The LED control program 70B controls lightingof the power lamp PL, the battery lamp BL, the message lamp ML, ifnecessary, or any other LED lamp. The touch pad input monitoring program70C is a program for monitoring an input from the touch pad 6corresponding to a user operation.

The key input monitoring program 70D is a program for monitoring aninput from the keyboard 24 or any other key switch. The wake-up program70E is a program for determining whether or not a predetermined time hasbeen reached based on the data indicating the current time supplied fromthe timer circuit 60 in the bridge 58 and for managing ON/OFF of thechips constructing the personal computer 1 to launch a predeterminedprocess (or program) when the predetermined time has been reached. Thejog dial state monitoring program 70F is a program for always monitoringthe state of the jog dial 23 as to whether or not a rotary encoder ofthe jog dial 23 is rotated or whether or not the jog dial 23 is pressed.

The ROM 70 also contains a BIOS (basic input/output system) 70G. TheBIOS 70G controls data communication (input/output) between the OS orapplication program and a peripheral device (the touch pad 6, thekeyboard 24, the HDD 67, or the like).

The RAM 71 includes registers 71A through 71F which represent an LEDcontrol register, a touch pad input status register, a key input statusregister, a time setting register, an I/O register for the purpose ofjog dial state monitoring, and an IEEE1394 I/F register. For example,when the jog dial 23 is pressed to launch the e-mail program 54A, theLED control register stores a predetermined value so as to control themessage lamp ML to light according to the stored value. When the jogdial 23 is pressed, the key input status register stores a predeterminedoperation key flag. The time setting register sets a predetermined timeaccording to a user operation using the keyboard 24 or the like.

The jog dial 23, the touch pad 6, the keyboard 24, the IEEE1394 port101, and the like are connected to the I/O interface 69 via a connector(not shown), and the I/O interface 69 outputs a signal corresponding tothe operation of the jog dial 23, the touch pad 6, or the keyboard 24 tothe ISA/EIO bus 63. The I/O interface 69 also controls datatransmission/reception to/from a device connected thereto via theIEEE1394 port 101. Also connected to the I/O interface 69 are the powerlamp PL, the battery lamp BL, the message lamp ML, a power controlcircuit 73, and the other LED lamps.

The power control circuit 73, which is connected to an internal battery74 or an AC power source, supplies necessary power to each block, andperforms control for charging the internal battery 74 or a secondbattery of the peripheral device. The I/O interface 69 further monitorsa power switch 27 operated when the personal computer 1 is powered on oroff.

The I/O interface 69 executes the IEEE1394 interface program 70A tillthe jog dial state monitoring program 70F using an internal battery evenin the power-off mode. In other words, the IEEE1394 interface program70A till the jog dial state monitoring program 70F are always active.

Therefore, even when the power switch 27 is turned off and the CPU 51does not execute the OS 54E, the I/O interface 69 enables the jog dialstate monitoring program 70F. This allows the personal computer 1 toactivate processing of predetermined software or script file when thejog dial 23 is pressed in the power saving or power-off mode.

Accordingly, there is no need for a dedicated key since the jog dial 23in the personal computer 1 has a programmable power key (PPK) function.

The hardware configuration of the server 5 is similar to the hardwareconfiguration of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 6, and adescription thereof is thus omitted.

The configuration of the portable device 2 is described below withreference to FIG. 7. A power supply circuit 202 converts a power voltagesupplied from a dry cell battery 201 into internal electric power of apredetermined voltage, and supplies the power to a CPU 203 to a displayunit 216, so that the overall portable device 2 is driven.

When connected to the personal computer 1 via a USB connector 206 over aUSB cable C, a USB controller 207 supplies data containing contenttransferred from the personal computer 1 to the CPU 203 via an internalbus 208.

The data transferred from the personal computer 1 is formed of 64-bytedata per packet, and is transferred at a transfer rate of 12 Mbit/secfrom the personal computer 1.

The data transferred to the portable device 2 is constructed by a headerand content. The header stores content ID, file name, header size,content key, file size, codec ID, file information, and so on. Theheader further stores playback restriction data necessary for placinglimits on playback, start time, end time, count restriction, a playbackcounter, a checkout period, and so on. The content is encoded with anencoding method such as ATRAC3, and is encrypted.

The header size indicates the data length of the header (for example, 33bytes), and the file size indicates the data length of the content (forexample, 33,636,138 bytes).

The content key is a key for decoding the encrypted content, and thecontent key, which is encrypted based on a session key (temporary key)generated during a mutual authentication process between the personalcomputer 1 and the portable device 2, is transmitted from the personalcomputer 1 to the portable device 2.

When the portable device 2 is connected to the USB port 107 of thepersonal computer 1 over the USB cable C, the portable device 2 and thepersonal computer 1 perform a mutual authentication process. The mutualauthentication process is implemented by, for example, achallenge-response authentication process. In the challenge-responseauthentication process, a DSP 209 of the portable device 2 performs adecryption (decoding) process.

The challenge-response scheme is a scheme in which, for example, acertain value (challenge) generated by the personal computer 1 isresponded by a value (response) generated by the portable device 2 usinga secret key shared with the personal computer 1. In thechallenge-response mutual authentication process, since the valuegenerated by the personal computer 1 changes each time theauthentication process is performed, for example, even if the valueoutput by the portable device 2 and generated using the secret key isread by an attacker, i.e., so-called “posing” occurs, the value used inthe next mutual authentication process differs, thus enabling thepersonal computer 1 to detect incorrectness.

The content ID is an ID corresponding to the content for identifying thecontent.

The codec ID is an ID compatible with a method by which the content isencoded, and, for example, codec ID“1” is compatible with ATRAC3 andcodec ID“0” is compatible with MP3 (MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)Audio Layer-3).

The file name is data in ASCII (American National Standard Code forInformation Interchange) code into which a content file corresponding tothe content and recorded in the personal computer 1 is converted. Thefile information is data in ASCII code into which the title of a song,the name of the artist, the name of the lyric writer, the name of thecomposer, or the like corresponding to the content is converted.

The playback restriction data is data indicating whether or not aplayback-allowed period during which the content can be played back(that is, start time or end time) or count restriction (restriction onthe number of playbacks) is set. When the count restriction is set, “1”is assigned to the playback restriction data; and when theplayback-allowed period is set, “2” is assigned to the playbackrestriction data. When the count restriction is not set and when theplayback-allowed period is not set (when the content is purchased andlicensed), “0” is assigned to the playback restriction data.

The start time and the end time are data indicating a duration of theplayback-allowed period when the playback restriction data is set to“2”. For example, if the start time is set to “00040F” and the end timeis set to “00070F”, the corresponding content can be played back in aperiod from Apr. 15, 2000 until Jul. 15, 2000.

Similarly, when the playback restriction data is set to “1” or “2”, thecount restriction indicates a predetermined number of playbacks allowedwhich is set in advance in correspondence with the content, and theplayback counter provides the number of playbacks of the content whichis updated by the CPU 203 each time the content is played back. Forexample, when the count restriction is set to “02”, the number ofcontent playbacks allowed is two; and when the playback counter is setto “01”, the number of content playbacks is one.

As an example, if the playback restriction data is set to “2”, the starttime set to “00040F”, the end time set to “00070F”, and the countrestriction is set to “02”, then, the portable device 2 can play backthe corresponding content twice per day in a period from Apr. 15, 2000until Jul. 15, 2000.

As another example, if the playback restriction data is set to “1”, thestart time set to “000000”, the end time set to “000000”, the countrestriction set to “0a”, and the playback counter is set to “05”, then,the corresponding content has no limit on the playback-allowed period,ten playbacks allowed, and five playback counts.

For example, if checkout period data is set to “00070F”, the portabledevice 2 is authorized to play back the corresponding content until Jul.15, 2000, and erases the corresponding content when Jul. 15, 2000 haspassed based on data indicating the current time and date supplied froma real-time clock 218.

When the portable device 2 receives content and a content write commandfrom the personal computer 1, the CPU 203 which executes a main programread from the ROM 205 to the RAM 204 receives the write command, andcontrols the memory card driver 210 to write the content received fromthe personal computer 1 to the memory card 3 placed therein.

When a playback command corresponding to a user pressing operation of aplayback/stop button (not shown) is supplied to the CPU 203 via anoperation key controller 211, the CPU 203 causes the memory card driver210 to read a playback code and the content from the memory card 3 andto transfer the results to the DSP 209.

The DSP 209 performs CRC (cyclic redundancy check) error detection onthe content based on the playback code transferred from the memory card3, before playing back the content, and supplies the played back data(indicated by D1 in FIG. 7) to a digital-to-analog conversion circuit212.

The DSP 209, which is integrated with an internal oscillation circuit(not shown), plays back the content based on a master clock MCLK from anexternally attached crystal oscillator 209A, and supplies to thedigital-to-analog conversion circuit 212 the master clock MCLK, apredetermined frequency bit clock BCLK generated by the internaloscillation circuit based on the master clock MCLK, and an operationclock LRCLK consisting of frame-based L-channel clock LCLK and R-channelclock RCLK.

When the content is played back, the DSP 209 supplies the above-notedoperation clock to the digital-to-analog conversion circuit 212according to the playback code; and when the content is not played back,the DSP 209 stops supplying the operation clock according to theplayback code so as to make the digital-to-analog conversion circuit 212inoperable, thereby reducing the total power consumption of the portabledevice 2.

Similarly, the CPU 203 and the USB controller 207 have crystaloscillators 203A and 207A externally attached thereto, respectively, andexecute predetermined processing based on master clock MCLK suppliedfrom the oscillators 203A and 207A, respectively.

With this structure, the portable device 2 does not require a clockgeneration module for supplying clocks to circuit blocks such as the CPU203, the DSP 209, and the USB controller 207, thus providing a simplecircuit structure, and can be compact.

The digital-to-analog conversion circuit 212 converts the played backcontent into an analog audio signal, and supplies the signal to anamplifier circuit 213. The amplifier circuit 213 amplifies the audiosignal, and supplies the resulting signal to a headphone (not shown) viaa headphone jack 214.

In this way, the portable device 2 plays back content stored in thememory card 3 under control of the CPU 203 when a playback/stop button(not shown) is pressed, and stops a playback of the content when theplayback/stop button is pressed during the playback process.

When the playback/stop button is pressed after stopping a playback, theportable device 2 resumes a playback of the content at the position atwhich the previous playback was stopped under control of the CPU 203. Asseveral seconds has passed without application of any operation sincedepression of the playback/stop button caused a playback to be stopped,the portable device 2 is automatically powered off to reduce the powerconsumption.

If the playback/stop button is pressed after the portable device 2 ispowered off, the portable device 2 does not play back the content at theposition at which the previous playback was stopped, but plays back thecontent from the first song.

The CPU 203 of the portable device 2 controls an LCD controller 215 tocause the display unit 216 to display information indicating the stateof a playback mode (for example, repeat playback, intro playback, etc.),equalizer adjustment (that is, adjustment of gain corresponding to thefrequency band of the audio signal), song number, playing time, aplayback, stop, fast forward, or fast rewind mode, a sound volume, theremaining battery life of the dry cell battery 201, and so on.

The portable device 2 further stores into an EEPROM 217 a so-called FAT(file allocation table) which lists the number of contents written inthe memory card 3, the position of blocks in the memory card 3 in whichthe contents are written, and other various memory storage information,in addition to the ID of the memory card 3.

When connected to the personal computer 1 over the USB cable C(hereinafter referred to as “USB connected”), the portable device 2recognizes that the portable device 2 is USB connected based on aninterrupt signal supplied from the USB controller 207 to the CPU 203.

When recognizing that the portable device 2 is USB connected, theportable device 2 receives an external power supply of a specifiedcurrent value from the personal computer 1 over the USB cable C, andcontrols the power supply circuit 202 to stop a power supply from thedry cell battery 201.

When the portable device 2 is USB connected, the CPU 203 causes the DSP209 to stop playing back the content. Thus, the CPU 203 prevents theexternal power supplied from the personal computer 1 from exceeding thespecified current value, and controls so that the external power of thespecified current value can constantly be received.

As discussed above, since the CPU 203 allows the power supplied from thedry cell battery 201 to be switched to the power supplied from thepersonal computer 1 when the portable device 2 is USB connected, theexternal power from the personal computer 1 which is economical can beused to reduce the power consumption of the dry cell battery 201 whichsupplies uneconomical power, thereby enabling the battery life of thedry cell battery 201 to be prolonged.

The real time clock 218 supplies data indicating the current time anddate to the CPU 203.

FIG. 8 illustrates the configuration of the memory card 3. The memorycard 3 is formed by incorporating a flash memory (non-volatile memory)302, a memory control block 301, and a security block 312 including aDES encryption circuit into an IC on a chip.

A bi-directional serial interface between the memory card driver 210 ofthe portable device 2 and the memory card 3 is formed of ten lines. Themain four lines are a clock line SCK for transmitting a clock duringdata transmission, a status line SBS for transmitting the status, a dataline DIO for transmitting data, and an interrupt line INT. In addition,two GND lines and two VCC lines serve as power supply lines. Theremaining two lines Reserv are undefined lines.

The clock line SCK is a line for transmitting a clock synchronous withdata. The status line SBS is a line for transmitting a signal indicatingthe status of the memory card 3. The data line DIO is a line forinputting and outputting commands and encrypted content. The interruptline INT is a line for transmitting an interrupt signal indicating aninterrupt request from the memory card 3 to the memory card driver 210.When the memory card 3 is inserted, the interrupt signal is produced. Inthis embodiment, however, since the interrupt signal is transmitted viathe data line DIO, the interrupt line INT is grounded.

A serial-to-parallel conversion/parallel-to-serial conversion/interfaceblock (S/P, P/S & IF block for short) 303 of the control block 301 is aninterface between the memory card driver 210 connected via theabove-noted lines and the control block 301. The S/P, P/S & IF block 303converts serial data received from the memory card driver 210 intoparallel data to capture the converted data in the control block 301,and converts parallel data from the control block 301 into serial datato send the converted data to the memory card driver 210. When receivingcommands and data transmitted via the data line DIO, the S/P, P/S & IFblock 303 separates it into commands and data for normal access to theflash memory 302, and commands and data necessary for encryption.

In the format in which a command and data are transmitted via the dataline DIO, the command is first transmitted, and the data is thentransmitted. The S/P, P/S & IF block 303 identifies a command and datanecessary for normal access from a command and data necessary forencryption based on code of the received command. Based on theidentification result, the command necessary for normal access is storedin a command register 304, and the data necessary for normal access isstored in a page buffer 305 and a write register 306. An errorcorrection coding circuit 307 is provided in association with the writeregister 306. With respect to the data temporarily stored in the pagebuffer 305, the error correction coding circuit 307 generates aredundant code of an error correction code.

The output data of the command register 304, the pager buffer 305, thewrite register 306, and the error correction coding circuit 307 aresupplied to a flash memory interface and sequence (memory I/F &sequencer for short) 311. The memory IF & sequencer 311 is an interfacebetween the control block 301 and the flash memory 302, and controlsdata communication therebetween. The data is written to the flash memory302 via the memory IF & sequencer 311.

The content (content compressed using ATRAC3, also hereinafter referredto as “ATRAC3 data”) written to the flash memory 302 is contentencrypted in advance by the personal computer 1 or encrypted by thesecurity block 312 of the memory card 3 for copyright protection.

The security block 312 includes a buffer memory 313, a DES encryptioncircuit 314, and a non-volatile memory 315.

The security block 312 of the memory card 3 has a plurality ofauthentication keys and a storage key unique to each memory card. Thenon-volatile memory 315, which stores keys necessary for encryption, isnot viewed from the outside. For example, the storage keys are stored inthe non-volatile memory 315. A random number generation circuit isfurther provided for verification with the memory card driver 210 whichis specified (i.e., in the same system in which a particular data formatetc. are used) to share a session key. Furthermore, in the DESencryption circuit 314, the storage key can be used to performencryption again.

Authentication is performed, for example, when the memory card 3 isinserted into the portable device 2. Authentication is performed by theDSP 209 of the portable device 2 and the security block 312 of thememory card 3. The portable device 2 verifies the identity of theinserted memory card 3 (the memory card in the same system) and thememory card 3 verifies the identity of the portable device 2 (the memorycard driver 210 in the same system), thereby performing authentication.When authentication is performed, each of the portable device 2 and thememory card 3 generates a session key, and shares the session keys. Thesession keys are generated each time authentication is performed.

When content is written to the memory card 3, the portable device 2encrypts a content key using the session key, and passes it to thememory card 3. The memory card 3 decodes the content key using thesession key to encrypt the content key using a storage key, and passesit to the portable device 2. The storage key is a key unique to eachmemory card 3, and the portable device 2 causes the encrypted contentkey and encrypted content to be written to the memory card 3.

The data read from the flash memory 302 is supplied to the page buffer305, a read register 308, and an error correction circuit 309 via thememory IF & sequencer 311. The data stored in the page buffer 305 iserror corrected by the error correction circuit 309. The error-correctedoutput of the page buffer 305 and the output of the read register 308are supplied to the S/P, P/S & IF block 303, and are supplied to thememory card driver 210 of the portable device 2 via the above-describedserial interface.

During the reading process, the content key encrypted using the storagekey and the content encrypted using a block key are read from the flashmemory 302. The content key is decoded by the security block 312 usingthe storage key. The decoded content key is encrypted using the sessionkey, and is then transmitted to the memory card driver 210 of theportable device 2. The portable device 2 decodes the content key usingthe received session key. The portable device 2 generates a block keyusing the decoded content key. The block key is used to sequentiallydecode the encrypted ATRAC3 data.

Reference numeral 310 denotes a configuration ROM for storing versioninformation of the memory card 3, various attribute information, and soon. The memory card 3 is further provided with anerroneous-erase-preventing switch 320 which can be operated by a user,if necessary. When the switch 320 is in the erase-prohibited connectionmode, erase of the flash memory 302 is prohibited even if a command forerasing the flash memory 302 is sent from the portable device 2.Reference numeral 321 denotes an oscillator for generating a referenceclock for a timing of the processing of the memory card 3.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the functional structure of the server 5.Upon a request from the personal computer 1, a web server 351 transmitsdata indicating the details of content and the like to the personalcomputer 1 over the network 4, and receives a user ID and the liketransmitted from the personal computer 1 over the network 4.

When receiving a user ID, data necessary for registration, a contentrequest, or the like from the personal computer 1, the web server 351supplies the user ID, the data necessary for registration, the contentrequest, or the like to a management server 352.

The management server 352 includes a content management database 361 anda user database 362. The content management database 361 records dataindicating the details of content including the title of a song, thetitle of an album, and the name of an artist, a checkout period, and soon in correspondence with the content ID.

The management server 352 reads the data indicating the details ofcontent, the checkout period, and the like from the content managementdatabase 361 upon a request from the web server 351, and supplies theread data indicating the details of content, checkout period, and thelike to the web server 351.

When registration of a user is requested from the web server 351, themanagement server 352 generates a user ID for the user to record theuser ID in the user database 362.

The user database 362 records credit card number, history of previousbilling charges, and so on in correspondence with the user ID which isdata for identifying a registered user.

When confirmation of registration of a user is requested from the webserver 351, the management server 352 determines whether or not the userID corresponding to the user has been recorded in the user database 362.If it is determined that the user ID has been recorded, data indicatingthat the user has been registered is supplied to the web server 351; andif it is determined that the user ID has not been recorded, dataindicating that the user has not been registered is supplied to the webserver 351.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an exemplary screen displayed by the personalcomputer 1-2 when setting a checkout period in content. The contentmanagement program 54F causes the LCD 26 to display a window including afield 381 onto which an icon corresponding to a content is dragged anddropped to choose the content, and a text box 382 for entering acheckout limit set in the selected content.

When an icon corresponding to content is dragged and dropped onto thefield 381, the content management program 54F selects the contentcorresponding to the icon.

The content management program 54F causes a checkout limit such as dateor a period from the time when a checkout was performed to be entered inthe text box 382 while the content is selected, and sets the checkoutlimit in the conditions of use stored in the condition-of-use file 67Mcorresponding to the selected content when a button indicating“REGISTER” is clicked.

When song information, a comment, or the like is input, the contentmanagement program 54F sets the song information, comment, or the likein the content.

FIG. 11 is a view showing exemplary conditions of use stored in thecondition-of-use file 67M. Content ID is data for identifying each ofthe contents stored in the content files 67J. One of values “YES” and“NO” is set in a “checkout allowed” column. If “YES” is set, the contentmanagement program 54F can check out the content specified by thecontent ID to the portable device 2 or another personal computer 1. If“NO” is set in the “checkout allowed” column, the content managementprogram 54F does not check out the content specified by the content IDto the portable device 2 and another personal computer 1.

The maximum number of checkouts which can be performed on thecorresponding content file 67J by the content management program 54F isset in a “maximum number of checkouts allowed” column. The maximumnumber of checkouts allowed is not modified.

The number of checkouts which can be performed on any of thecorresponding content files 67J by the content management program 54F atthe present time is set in a “number of checkouts allowed” column. Whenthe content management program 54F executes one checkout, the number ofcheckouts allowed decrements. When the content management program 54Fexecutes one check-in, the number of checkouts allowed increments.

If none of the content files 67J is checked out, the same number as themaximum number of checkouts allowed is set in the corresponding “numberof checkouts allowed” column.

When a checkout is performed to change the number of checkouts allowedfrom “1” to “0”, “NO” is set in the “checkout allowed” column. When acheck-in is performed to change the number of checkouts allowed changesfrom “0” to “1”, “YES” is set in the “checkout allowed” column.

One of values “YES” and “NO” is set in a “move allowed” column. If “YES”is set, the content management program 54F can move the contentspecified by the content ID. If “NO” is set in the “move allowed”column, the content management program 54F does not move the contentspecified by the content ID.

One of values “YES” and “NO” is set in a “copy allowed” column. If “YES”is set, the content management program 54F can copy the contentspecified by the content ID. If “NO” is set in the “copy allowed”column, the content management program 54F does not copy the contentspecified by the content ID.

The number of copies which can be performed by the content managementprogram 54F is set in a “number of copies allowed” column.

A period in which the content specified by the content ID is available(can be checked out, played back, or the like) is described in an“available period” column.

An area (for example, Japan or worldwide) in which the content specifiedby the content ID is available (can be checked out, played back, or thelike) is described in an “available area” column.

A “signature” column contains signature data based on the data set inthe “content ID” column till the “available area” column. The signaturedata is used to detect alteration of the conditions of use. Since analgorithm for generating the signature data is expressed byunidirectional function and is not publicly open, it is difficult forpeople other than a provider of the content management program 54F togenerate correct signature data based on the data set in the “contentID” column till the “available area” column.

A checkout period is stored in a user's area in the conditions of use.

The content management program 54F determines whether or not thecheckout period corresponding to the checked out content has passed. Ifit is determined that the checkout period has passed, the number ofcheckouts allowed increments similarly to when one check-in isperformed.

When content is checked out, the content and the checkout period thereofare supplied to the portable device 2. The portable device 2 stores thecontent and the checkout period into the memory card 3.

The portable device 2 determines whether or not the checkout periodstored in the user's area in the conditions of use corresponding to thecontent has passed. If it is determined that the checkout period haspassed, the portable device 2 erases the corresponding content.

A process for registering a user of the personal computer 1-1 or thepersonal computer 1-2 which is executed by the personal computer 1-1 orthe personal computer 1-2, and the server 5 is described below withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12.

In step S1001, the browser program 54G of the personal computer 1establishes a connection with the server 5 over the network 4.

In step S2001, the web server 351 of the server 5 establishes aconnection with the personal computer 1 over the network 4.

In step S1002, the browser program 54G transmits information such as thename, address, or e-mail address of the user, a credit card number, andso on to the server 5 over the network 4.

In step S2002, the web server 351 receives the information such as thename, address, or e-mail address of the user, the credit card number,and so on transmitted from the personal computer 1. The web server 351supplies the received information such as the name, address, or e-mailaddress of the user, credit card number, and so on to the managementserver 352.

In step S2003, the management server 352 of the server 5 generates auser ID for the user. In step S2004, the management server 352 verifiesthe validity of the credit card number to record to the user database362 the generated user ID, the user information, the credit card number,and the like. The management server 352 supplies the generated user IDto the web server 351.

In step S2005, the web server 351 transmits the user ID to the personalcomputer 1 over the network 4.

In step S1003, the browser program 54G of the personal computer 1receives the user ID. The browser program 54G records the received userID to the JDD 67 or displays it on the LCD 26, and is disconnected fromthe server 5. Then, the process ends.

As discussed above, the personal computer 1 and the server 5 are able toregister a user of the personal computer 1. The registration processallows the server 5 to record a credit card number in correspondencewith the user ID. Thus, when the user ID and service are requested fromthe personal computer 1, the server 5 can charge the user of thepersonal computer 1 based on the corresponding credit card number.

A process for recording information relevant to content in which acheckout period is set which is executed by the personal computer 1-2and the server 5 is described below with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 13. In step S1101, the content management program 54F ofthe personal computer 1-2 sets a checkout period in the conditions ofuse corresponding to content based on data entered using the screenshown in FIG. 10. In step S1102, the browser program 54G of the personalcomputer 1-2 is connected with the server 5 over the network 4.

In step S2101, the web server 351 is connected with the personalcomputer 1-2 over the network 4.

In step S1103, the browser program 54G transmits a user ID to the server5 over the network 4. The user ID to be transmitted is stored in advancein the personal computer 1-2 or is entered to the personal computer 1-2by operating the keyboard 24 or the like.

In step S2102, the web server 351 receives the user ID transmitted bythe personal computer 1-2. The web server 351 inquires of the managementserver 352 whether or not the received user ID has been registered inthe user database 362. In step S2103, the management server 352 checkswhether or not the user ID has been registered in the user database 362.If it is determined that the user ID has been registered in the userdatabase 362, the user ID is authorized, and the process proceeds to thesubsequent step. If it is determined that the user ID has not beenregistered in the user database 362, the user ID is not authorized, andthe process ends without performing the subsequent processing.

In step S1104, the browser program 54G transmits to the server 5 overthe network 4 content ID, the details of content, a checkout period, anddata indicating the location in which the content is recorded.

In step S2104, the web server 351 receives the content ID, the detailsof content, the checkout period, and the data indicating the location inwhich the content is recorded, which are transmitted by the personalcomputer 1-2. The web server 351 supplies to the management server 352the content ID, the details of content, the checkout period, and thedata indicating the location in which the content is recorded.

In step S2105, the management server 352 records to the contentmanagement database 361 the content ID, the details of content, thecheckout period, and the data indicating the location in which thecontent is recorded, and the process ends.

As discussed above, the server 5 is able to record, in correspondencewith content ID, the details of content, a checkout period, and dataindicating the location in which the content is recorded.

The server 5 may perform a billing process for charging a bill to theuser of the personal computer 1-2 when the details of content, acheckout period, and data indicating the location in which the contentis recorded are recorded in correspondence with content ID.

The server 5 may further add points to the user database 362corresponding to the user ID of the user of the personal computer 1-2when the details of content, a checkout period, and data indicating thelocation in which the content is recorded are recorded in correspondencewith content ID. For example, the user of the personal computer 1-2 canobtain goods in exchange of the points, or can obtain information oncontents of a personal computer in exchange of the points.

A content checkout process executed by the personal computer 1-1 isdescribed below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 14. Instep S3201, the browser program 54G of the personal computer 1-1 isconnected with the server 5 over the network 4.

In step S2202/S2201, the webs server 351 is connected with the personalcomputer 1-1 over the network 4.

In step S3202, the browser program 54G transmits a user ID to the server5 over the network 4.

In step S2202, the web server 351 receives the user ID transmitted bythe personal computer 1-1. The web server 351 inquires of the managementserver 352 whether or not the received user ID has been registered inthe user database 362. In step S2203, the management server 352 checkswhether or not the user ID has been registered in the user database 362.If it is determined that the user ID has been registered in the userdatabase 362, the process proceeds to the subsequent step. If it isdetermined that the user ID has not been registered in the user database362, the process ends.

In step S3203, the browser program 54G issues a content informationrequest to the server 5 over the network 4.

Before a user verification process based on the user ID or in place of auser verification process based on the user ID, the personal computer1-1 and the server 5 may perform a mutual authentication process.

In step S2204, the web server 351 reads content ID, the details ofcontent, a checkout period, and data indicating the location in whichthe content is recorded from the content management server 361 via themanagement server 352, and supplies to the personal computer 1-1 overthe network 4 the content ID, the details of content, the checkoutperiod, and the data indicating the location in which the content isrecorded. In step S2205, the management server 352 charges a bill forthe provided content information based on the user data recorded in theuser database 362. For example, the management server 352 charges a billbased on a user's credit card number recorded in the user database 362in correspondence with the user ID.

In the billing process, for example, a bill for the provided contentinformation may be charged per month.

In step S3204, the personal computer 1-1 receives the content ID, thedetails of content, the checkout period, and the data indicating thelocation in which the content is recorded, which are transmitted by theserver 5.

In step S3205, the personal computer 1-1 issues a content checkoutrequest to the personal computer 1-2 over the network 4 based on thecontent ID and the data indicating the location in which the content isrecorded.

In step S1201, the personal computer 1-2 checks out the contentcorresponding to the content ID over the network 4 according to therequest from the personal computer 1-1.

In step S4201, the portable device 2 receives the content transmitted bythe personal computer 1-2 via the personal computer 1-1 over the network4. In step S4202, the portable device 2 stores the content into thememory card 3 placed therein, and the process ends.

As discussed above, the personal computer 1-1 is able to obtaininformation on content in which a checkout period is set from the server5 to cause the personal computer 1-2 to check out the content, and tostore the content into the memory card 3.

The server 5 is able to charge a user of the personal computer 1-1 forthe content information provided for the personal computer 1-1.

The personal computer 1-1 may record the content checked out from thepersonal computer 1-2, and may move the recorded content to the memorycard 3.

An automatic check-in process for content executed by the portabledevice 2 is described below with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 15.

In step S11, the portable device 2 determines whether or not a playbackof content is requested. If it is determined that a playback of contentis requested, the process proceeds to step S12, in which it isdetermined whether or not the checkout period of the content has passedbased on the current time and date supplied from the real-time clock218.

If it is determined in step S12 that the checkout period of the contenthas passed, the process proceeds to step S13, in which the portabledevice 2 erases the content stored in the memory card 3 together withthe data corresponding to the content.

If it is determined in step S11 that a playback of content is notrequested, the process ends.

If it is determined in step S12 that the checkout period of the contenthas not passed, there is no need for check-in, and the process ends.

As discussed above, the portable device 2 is able to automatically checkin the content stored in the memory card 3.

The portable device 2 may perform processing of steps S12 and S13 at apredetermined interval such as every day.

An automatic check-in process executed by the personal computer 1-2 isdescribed below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 16.

In step S21, the content management program 54F determines whether ornot the checkout period of the content has passed based on the currenttime and date supplied from the timer circuit 60. If it is determinedthat the checkout period of the content has passed, the process proceedsto step S22, in which the number of checkouts allowed in the conditionsof use stored in the condition-of-use file 67M corresponding to thecontent increments by one. Then, the process ends.

If it is determined in step S21 that the checkout period of the contenthas not passed, there is no need for check-in, and the process ends.

As discussed above, the personal computer 1-2 is able to automaticallycheck in content.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of thecontent providing system. Portions similar to those shown in FIG. 1 aredesignated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof isomitted.

A portable device 401 includes an internal storage medium such as aflash memory, and stores content checked out from the personal computer1-2 into the internal storage medium.

The portable device 401 erases the stored content when the checkoutperiod set in the conditions of use corresponding to the stored contenthas passed.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the configuration of the portable device401. Portions similar to those shown in FIG. 7 are designated by thesame reference numerals, and a description thereof is omitted.

When the portable device 401 receives content and a write command of thecontent from the personal computer 1, the CPU 203 which executes a mainprogram read from the ROM 204 to the RAM 205 receives the write command,and controls a flash memory control 421 to write the content receivedfrom the personal computer 1 to a flash memory 422.

The flash memory 422 has a storage capacity of about 64 Mbytes, andstores content. The flash memory 422 also stores in advance a playbackcode for decompressing content compressed with a predeterminedcompression method.

When a playback command corresponding to a user pressing operation of aplayback/stop button (not shown) is supplied to the CPU 203 via theoperation key controller 211, the CPU 203 causes the flash memorycontroller 421 to read the playback code and the content from the flashmemory 422 and to transfer the results to the DSP 209.

The DSP 209 performs CRC error detection on the content based on theplayback code transferred from the flash memory 422, before playing backthe content, and supplies the played back data to the digital-to-analogconversion circuit 212.

The user registration, content registration, content checkout, andautomatic content check-in processes of the content providing systemshown in FIG. 17 are similar to those of the content providing systemshown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof is thus omitted.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment ofthe content providing system.

A camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 is configured sothat a memory card 3 is attachable thereto, and stores content checkedout from the personal computer 1-2 into the attached memory card 3.

The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 erases thecontent stored in the memory card 3 when the checkout period set in theconditions of use corresponding to the stored content has passed.

The appearance of the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501constructing the content providing system according to the presentinvention is described below. As shown in FIG. 20, the camera-equippeddigital cellular telephone set 501 is formed of a display unit 521 and abody 522 so as to be foldable by a central hinge portion 523.

A transmission/reception antenna 524 extendable or receivable isprovided on the top left portion of the display unit 521. Thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 transmits andreceives radio waves to and from a base station which is a fixed radiostation via the antenna 524.

A camera 525 which is rotatable in an angular range of about 180° isprovided on the top center portion of the display unit 521. Thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 uses a CCD(charge-coupled device) camera 526 of the camera 525 to capture an imageof a desired object.

When the camera 525 is rotated approximately 180° and is positioned by auser, as shown in FIG. 21, the display unit 521 is in the state in whicha speaker 527 disposed at the center of the rear surface of the camera525 is positioned on the front side. Then, the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 501 is switched to a normal talk mode.

A liquid crystal display 528 is disposed on the front surface of thedisplay unit 521. The liquid crystal display 528 displays the receptionstatus, the remaining battery life, the name or telephone number ofother parties registered in a telephone directory, call history, ane-mail message, a simple home page, an image captured by the CCD camera526 of the camera 525 or a map image indicating a route, and so on.

Meanwhile, the body 522 has operation keys 529 mounted on a surfacethereof, including number keys “0” to “9”, a dial key, a re-dial key, anend/power key, a clear key, and an e-mail key. Various commandscorresponding to the operation of the operation keys 529 are input tothe camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501.

The body 522 is further provided with a memo button 530 and a microphone531 below the operation keys 529. When the memo button 530 is operated,the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 records voice ofthe other party of call in-progress. The camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 501 uses the microphone 531 to collect voice ofthe user when talking.

The body 522 is further provided with a rotatable jog dial 532 above theoperation keys 529 so that the jog dial 532 is slightly projected fromthe surface of the body 522. As the jog dial 532 is rotated, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 performs variousoperations, such as scrolls through a telephone directory or an e-maildisplayed on the liquid crystal display 528, scrolls through a simplehome page, and scrolls through an image.

For example, as the jog dial 532 is rotated by the user, the body 522selects a desired telephone number from a plurality of telephone numbersin a telephone directory displayed on the liquid crystal display 528.When the jog dial 532 is pressed in the body 522, the selected telephonenumber is determined, and the determined telephone number isautomatically dialed.

A battery pack (not shown) is attached to the rear side of the body 522.When the end/power key is turned on, power is supplied from the batterypack to each circuit to make it active.

A memory card slot 533 for receiving a memory card 3 attachable anddetachable thereto and therefrom is provided at the upper portion on theleft side surface of the body 522.

When the memo button 530 is pressed, the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 501 records voice of the other party of callin-progress to the memory card 3. The camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 501 records an e-mail, a simple home page, or an imagecaptured by the CCD camera 526 to the received memory card 3 accordingto the operation of the user.

The memory card 3 is implemented by, for example, a memory stick(trademark), which is a flash memory card, developed by the presentapplicant, Sony Corporation. This memory card 3 is designed so that aflash memory device which is an EEPROM (electrically erasable andprogrammable read only memory) serving as an electrically writable orerasable non-volatile memory is received in a compact thin plastic caseof 21.5 mm×50 mm×2.8 mm, and the memory card 3 is capable of writing andreading various data such as image, audio, and music data via a 10-pinterminal.

In order to support the specification modification of the internal flashmemory aiming at large capacity etc., the memory card 3 employs anindependent serial protocol which provides the compatibility with adevice used, thereby achieving high speed performance of the maximumwrite speed of 1.5 MB/S and the maximum read speed of 2.45 MB/S. Thememory card 3 further includes an erroneous-erase-preventing switch toachieve high reliability.

Therefore, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 isdesigned so that the memory card 3 is attachable thereto, and is able toshare data with another electronic device such as the personal computer1.

As shown in FIG. 13, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set501 is configured so that a power supply circuit 552, an operation inputcontroller 553, an image encoder 554, a camera interface 555, an LCD(liquid crystal display) controller 556, an image decoder 557, amultiplexer/demultiplexer 558, a storage/playback unit 563, amodulation/demodulation circuit 559, and an audio codec 560 are mutuallyconnected via a main bus 561 with a main controller 551 forcomprehensively controlling the display unit 521 and the body 522, andthe image encoder 554, the image decoder 557, themultiplexer/demultiplexer 558, the modulation/demodulation circuit 559,and the audio codec 560 are connected with one another via asynchronization bus 562.

When the end/power key is turned on by a user operation, the powersupply circuit 552 supplies power to components from a battery pack,thereby making the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501active.

In the talk mode, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501converts an audio signal obtained by collecting voice using themicrophone 531 into digital audio data by the audio codec 560 undercontrol of the main controller 551 formed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and soon. The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 spreads thespectrum of the digital audio data in the modulation/demodulationcircuit 559, which is then subjected to digital-to-analog conversion andfrequency conversion in the transmission/reception circuit 564, beforetransmitting the result via the antenna 524.

In the talk mode, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501amplifies a signal received by the antenna 524, which is then subjectedto frequency conversion and analog-to-digital conversion, and despreadsthe resulting signal in the modulation/demodulation circuit 559. Theresulting signal is converted into an analog audio signal by the audiocodec 560. The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501outputs a sound corresponding to the analog audio signal from thespeaker 527.

When transmitting an e-mail in the data communication mode, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 transmits text dataof the e-mail entered by the operation of the operation keys 529 and thejog dial 532 to the main controller 551 via the operation inputcontroller 553.

The main controller 551 spreads the spectrum of the text data in themodulation/demodulation circuit 559, which is then subjected todigital-to-analog conversion and frequency conversion in thetransmission/reception circuit 564, before transmitting the result tothe base station via the antenna 524.

When receiving an e-mail in the data communication mode, on the otherhand, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 despreadsthe signal received from the base station via the antenna 524 in themodulation/demodulation circuit 559 to recover the original text data,and displays it in the e-mail format on the liquid crystal display 528via the LCD controller 556.

The main controller 551 executes a mail transmission/reception programwhen an e-mail is transmitted or received in the data communicationmode.

Thereafter, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 mayrecord the received e-mail to the memory card 3 via the storage/playbackunit 563 according to a user operation.

When transmitting image data in the data communication mode, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 supplies image datacaptured by the CCD camera 526 to the image encoder 554 via the camerainterface 555.

The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 may also displaythe image data captured by the CCD camera 526 directly on the liquidcrystal display 528 via the camera interface 555 and the LCD controller556 when the image data is not transmitted.

The image encoder 554 compresses and encodes the image data suppliedfrom the CCD camera 526 using a predetermined coding scheme such as MPEG(Moving Picture Experts Group)-2 or MPEG-4 for conversion into encodedimage data, and sends it to the multiplexer/demultiplexer 558.

At the same time, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501converts voice collected by the microphone 531 when the image iscaptured by the CCD camera 526 into digital audio data, and sends it tothe multiplexer/demultiplexer 558 via the audio codec 560.

The multiplexer/demultiplexer 558 multiplexes the encoded image datasupplied from the image encoder 554 and the audio data supplied from theaudio codec 560 using a predetermined method, and the resultingmultiplexed data is then subjected to spread spectrum in themodulation/demodulation circuit 559 and is subjected todigital-to-analog conversion and frequency conversion in thetransmission/reception circuit 564, before the result is transmitted viathe antenna 524.

When receiving moving image file data linked to, for example, a simplehome page in the data communication mode, on the other hand, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 despreads in themodulation/demodulation circuit 559 the signal received from the basestation via the antenna 524, and sends the resulting multiplexed data tothe multiplexer/demultiplexer 558.

The multiplexer/demultiplexer 558 demultiplexes the multiplexed datainto encoded image data and audio data, and supplies the encoded imagedata to the image decoder 557 and the audio data to the audio codec 560via the synchronization bus 562.

The image decoder 557 decodes the encoded image data using a decodingmethod corresponding to the predetermined encoding method such as MPEG-2or MPEG-4 to reproduce moving image data, and supplies the resultingdata to the liquid crystal display 528 via the LCD controller 556. Thus,the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 displays movingimage data contained in a moving image file linked to, for example, asimple home page.

At the same time, the audio codec 560 converts the audio data into ananalog audio signal, and then supplies it to the speaker 527. Thus, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 plays back audio datacontained in a moving image file linked to, for example, a simple homepage.

In this case, similarly to e-mail cases, the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 501 is able to record the received data linked toa simple home page or the like to the memory card 3 via thestorage/playback unit 563 according to a user operation.

A process for registering a user of the camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 501 is similar to the process discussed above withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, and a description thereofis thus omitted.

A content checkout process is described below with reference to theflowchart shown in FIG. 23.

In step S3301, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 isconnected with the server 5 over the network 4.

In step S2301, the web server 351 is connected with the camera-equippeddigital cellular telephone set 501 over the network 4.

In step S3302, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501transmits a user ID to the server 5 over the network 4.

In step S2301, the web server 351 receives the user ID transmitted bythe camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501. The web server351 inquires of the management server 352 whether or not the receiveduser ID (step S2302) has been registered in the user database 362. Instep S2303, the management server 352 checks whether or not the user IDhas been registered in the user database 362. If it is determined thatthe user ID has been registered in the user database 362, the processproceeds to subsequent steps S2304, S2305. If it is determined that theuser ID has not been registered in the user database 362, the processends.

In step S3303, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501issues a content information request to the server 5 over the network 4.

In step S2304, the web server 351 reads a checkout period and dataindicating the location in which the content is recorded from thecontent management server 361 via the management server 352, andsupplies to the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501 overthe network 4 content ID, the checkout period, and the data indicatingthe location in which the content is recorded.

In step S3304, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501receives the content ID, the checkout period, and the data indicatingthe location in which the content is recorded, which are transmittedfrom the server 5.

In step S3305, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501issues a content checkout request to the personal computer 1-2 based onthe content ID and the data indicating the location in which the contentis recorded.

In step S1301, the personal computer 1-2 checks out the contentaccording to the request from the camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 501.

In step S3306, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501receives the content transmitted by the personal computer 1-2 over thenetwork 4. In step S3307, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephoneset 501 stores the content in the memory card 3 placed therein, and theprocess ends.

An automatic check-in process of the camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 501 is similar to the process discussed above withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, and a description thereofis thus omitted.

As discussed above, the content providing system shown in FIG. 19 isable to automatically check in checked out content.

FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment ofthe content providing system. Portions similar to those shown in FIG. 19are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereofis omitted.

A camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601 has a similarstructure to that of the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set501 except that the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601includes an internal storage medium such as a flash memory.

The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601 receives contentchecked out from the personal computer 1-2, and stores the receivedcontent into the internal storage medium.

The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601 erases the storedcontent when the checkout period set in the conditions of usecorresponding to the stored content has passed.

An automatic check-in process of the camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 601 is similar to the process discussed above withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, and a description thereofis thus omitted.

FIG. 25 is a configuration block diagram showing still anotherembodiment of the content providing system according to the presentinvention.

The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601 sets a checkoutperiod in content recorded therein, and transmits to a server 701 overthe network 4 data indicating the details of the content in which thecheckout period is set, and content ID of the content in which thecheckout period is set. The camera-equipped digital cellular telephoneset 601 moves the content in which the checkout period is set to theserver 701 over the network 4.

A personal computer 1-2 sets a checkout period in content recordedtherein, and transmits to the server 701 over the network 4 dataindicating the details of the content in which the checkout period isset, and content ID of the content in which the checkout period is set.The personal computer 1-2 moves the content in which the checkout periodis set to the server 701 over the network 4.

A server 701 records the data indicating the details of the content inwhich the checkout period is set and the content ID of the content inwhich the checkout period is set, which are received from the personalcomputer 1-2 or the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601.The server 701 records the content moved from the personal computer 1-2or the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601.

When data relevant to content is requested from the personal computer1-1, the server 701 transmits to the personal computer 1-1 dataindicating the details of content in which a checkout period is set andcontent ID of content in which a checkout period is set.

The personal computer 1-1 displays the details of the content in whichthe checkout period is set based on the data indicating the details ofthe content in which the checkout period is set. According to theoperation of a user who selects content to be checked out based on thedisplayed details, the personal computer 1-1 issues a content checkoutrequest to the server 701 based on the content ID of the content inwhich the checkout period is set.

According to the content checkout request from the personal computer1-1, the server 701 checks out the content in which the checkout periodis set to the memory card 3 over the network 4 via the personal computer1-1 and the portable device 2.

When content in which a checkout period is set is checked out, theserver 701 increments the number of checkouts allowed in the conditionsof use by one when the checkout period set in the conditions of usecorresponding to the checked out content has passed.

The personal computer 1-1 transmits the checked out content to theportable device 2 connected thereto via USB or the like. The portabledevice 2 stores the content received from the personal computer 1-1 inthe memory card placed therein.

When the checkout period set in the content has passed, the portabledevice 2 erases the content in which the checkout period is set andwhich is stored in the memory card 3.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the functional structure of the server 701.Portions similar to those shown in FIG. 9 are designated by the samereference numerals, and a description thereof is omitted.

A management server 741 includes a content management database 361, auser database 362, a content database 751, and a content use historydatabase 752.

The content database 751 records the content moved from the personalcomputer 1-2 or the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601.

When content is checked out from the content database 751 to thepersonal computer 1-1, the content use history database 752 records thecontent ID of the checked out content, the user ID corresponding to auser who requests a checkout, and history including checkout count.

FIG. 27 is a view showing an exemplary screen displayed by the personalcomputer 1-2 when setting a checkout period in content and moving thecontent to the server 701. The content management program 54F causes theLCD 26 to display a window including a field 381 onto which an iconcorresponding to a content is dragged and dropped to choose the content,and a text box 382 for entering a checkout limit set in the selectedcontent.

When an icon corresponding to content is dragged and dropped onto thefield 381, the content management program 54F selects the contentcorresponding to the icon.

The content management program 54F causes a checkout limit such as dateor a period to be entered in the text box 382 while the content isselected, and sets the checkout limit in the conditions of usecorresponding to the selected content when a button indicating“REGISTER” is clicked.

When song information, a comment, or the like is input, the contentmanagement program 54F sets the song information, comment, or the likein the content.

The content management program 54F causes the content in which thecheckout limit is set to be moved to the server 701 over the network 4.

The browser program 54G may cause the content in which the checkoutlimit is set to be moved to the server 701.

FIGS. 28 and 29 show example data recorded in the content use historydatabase 752.

The example shown in FIG. 28 is data indicating a log of checkout countrecorded in the content use history database 752. The data indicating alog of checkout count records, in correspondence with the content ID, auser ID corresponding to a user who checks out the content, the title ofa song, and checkout count of the content.

The checkout count may represent the number of checkouts after thecontent is moved to the server 701, or may represent the number ofcheckouts at a predetermined interval, for example, the number ofcheckouts per week.

In the example shown in FIG. 28, user ID “aaa”, song “ddd”, and checkoutcount “jjj” are recorded in correspondence with content ID “AAA”. UserID “bbb”, song “eee”, and checkout count “kkk” are recorded incorrespondence with content ID “BBB”. User ID “ccc”, song “fff”, andcheckout count “lll” are recorded in correspondence with content ID“CCC”.

The example shown in FIG. 29 is data indicating the details of contentrecorded in the content use history database 752. The data indicatingthe details of content contains the title of an album, the name of anartist, a category, a track number, and so on in correspondence with thetitle of a song.

In the example shown in FIG. 29, album “AaA”, artist “DdD”, category“classic”, and track number “2” are recorded in correspondence with song“ddd”. Album “BbB”, artist “EeE”, category “jazz”, and track number “4”are recorded in correspondence with song “eee”. Album “CcC”, artist“FfF”, category “hip-hop”, and track number “6” are recorded incorrespondence with song “fff”.

Accordingly, the server 701 records the user ID of a user who checks outcontent, the checkout count of the content, and the details of thecontent, and can therefore grasp how many checkouts of content of whatalbum in what category was performed.

A content moving process performed by the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 601 and the server 701 is described below withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 30. The processing of stepsS1401 through S2403 is similar to the processing of steps S1101 throughS2103 in FIG. 13, respectively, and a description thereof is thusomitted.

In step S1401, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601transmits to the server 701 data indicating the details of content, thecorresponding conditions of use, and the content in which a checkoutperiod is set in order to move the content.

In step S2404, the web server 351 of the server 701 receives the dataindicating the details of the content, the corresponding conditions ofuse, and the content, which are transmitted by the camera-equippeddigital cellular telephone set 601. The web server 351 supplies thereceived conditions of use and content to the management server 741.

In step S2405, the content management server 741 of the server 701records the content in which the checkout period is set and thecorresponding conditions of use to the content database 751, and theprocess ends.

As discussed above, the server 701 is able to record content in which acheckout period is set and which is moved.

A checkout process of the content processing shown in FIG. 25 isdescribed below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 31. Theprocessing of steps S3501 through S3504 is similar to the processing ofsteps S3201 through S3204 in FIG. 14, respectively, and a descriptionthereof is thus omitted.

In step S3505, the browser program 54G of the personal computer 1-1issues a content checkout request to the server 701 over the network 4.

In Step S2505, according to the request from the personal computer 1-1,the server 701 causes the content to be read from the content database751 of the management server 741, and causes the web server 351 to checkout the content.

In step S2506, the management server 741 performs a billing processbased on the user data recorded in the user database 362. In step S2507,the management server 741 records a log corresponding to the checked outcontent to the content use history database.

In step S4501, the portable device 2 receives the checked out contenttransmitted by the server 701 via the personal computer 1-1. In stepS4502, the portable device 2 records the checked out content to thememory card 3 attached thereto, and the process ends.

As discussed above, the server 701 is able to check out content in whicha checkout period is set.

An automatic check-in process of the server 701 is similar to theprocess discussed above with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.16, and a description thereof is thus omitted.

FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment ofthe content providing system according to the present invention.Portions similar to those shown in FIG. 19 are designated by the samereference numerals, and a description thereof is omitted.

A camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601-2 shown in FIG. 32,which corresponds to the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set601 shown in FIG. 19, moves content in which a checkout period is set tothe server 701.

A camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601-1 checks out thecontent in which the checkout period is set from the server 701, andstores the content into an internal storage medium such as a flashmemory.

The camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601-1 erases thestored content when the checkout period has passed.

A content checkout process performed by the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 601-1 and the server 701 is described below withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 33.

The processing of steps S3601 through S2607 is similar to the processingof steps S3501 through S2507 in FIG. 31, respectively, except that theprocessing is executed by the camera-equipped digital cellular telephoneset 601-1 in place of the personal computer 1-1, and a descriptionthereof is thus omitted.

In step S3606, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601-1receives the content checked out by the server 701. In step S3607, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601-1 stores the receivedcontent into the internal storage medium, and the process ends.

An automatic check-in process of the camera-equipped digital cellulartelephone set 601-1 is similar to the process discussed above withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, and a description thereofis thus omitted.

As discussed above, the content providing system is able toautomatically check in content in which a checkout limit is set.

The content providing system is further able to charge a bill for theprovided information relevant to content in which a checkout limit isset.

Although the content is music/sound data in the foregoing description,the content is not limited to music/sound data, and any useful data ofstill image, moving picture, computer program, or numerical data may beused.

In the foregoing description, the personal computer 1-1, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501, the camera-equippeddigital cellular telephone set 601, or the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 601-1 issues a request for content information tothe server 5 or the server 701, and the server 5 or the server 701provides the content information; however, regardless of the presence orabsence of the request from the personal computer 1-1, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501, the camera-equippeddigital cellular telephone set 601, or the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 601-1, the server 5 or the server 701 may providethe content information in the e-mail format to the personal computer1-1, the camera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601, or thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 601-1.

A dedicated server for recording and providing content in which acheckout limit is set may be provided.

The server 5 or the server 701 may provide visual and audio datacorresponding to content to the personal computer 1-1, thecamera-equipped digital cellular telephone set 501, the camera-equippeddigital cellular telephone set 601, or the camera-equipped digitalcellular telephone set 601-1.

The above-described series of processes may be executed by hardware orsoftware. If the series of processes is executed by software, a programconstructing the software is installed from a program storage medium toa computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or to device capable ofachieving various functions by installing various programs, such as ageneral-purpose personal computer.

A program storage medium for storing a program installed to a computerand executable by the computer is constructed by packaged media such asthe magnetic disk 121 (including a floppy disk), optical disk 122(including a CD-ROM (compact disc-read only memory) and a DVD (digitalversatile disc)), magneto-optical disk 123 (including an MD(Mini-Disc)(trademark)), and semiconductor memory 124 shown in FIG. 6,or the ROM 701 or HDD 67 having the program stored temporarily orpermanently therein. The program is stored into the program storagemedium using wired or wireless communication media such as a local areanetwork, the Internet, and digital satellite broadcasting via interfacessuch as a router and a modem, if necessary.

As is anticipated herein, the steps describing a program recorded in aprogram storage medium include steps performed in a time-series manneraccording to the described order, and steps performed in a parallel ordiscrete manner although the steps are not necessarily performed in atimes-series manner.

A program executing the above-described series of processes may beinstalled to a computer via wired or wireless communication media suchas a local area network, the Internet, and digital satellitebroadcasting via interfaces such as a router and a modem, if necessary.

As used herein, a system represents an overall apparatus constructed bya plurality of apparatuses.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, users can easily know content whichothers are allowed to check out.

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a processor; areceiving unit configured to receive data from a first apparatus via anetwork, the data is associated with a content stored in the firstapparatus and identifies a location of the content in the firstapparatus, includes descriptive information of the content, and includescontent usage conditions limiting usage of the content, but the contentis available for checkout from the first apparatus to a secondapparatus, the content usage conditions include a number of maximumcontent checkouts available, and the number of maximum checkouts can notbe modified after the maximum number is set; the receiving unitconfigured to receive a request from the second apparatus via thenetwork after the second apparatus establishes a connection with thereceiving unit via the network; a recording unit configured to recordthe associated data in a database that includes a user databaseconfigured to record a user identifier (ID), which identifies aregistered user, and billing history associated with said user ID, andwhen confirmation of registration of a user is requested, the databasedetermines whether or not the user ID corresponding to the user has beenpreviously recorded in the user database, if the user is previouslyregistered in the user database, a signal indicating that the user ispreviously registered is sent to the first apparatus; a usage conditionunit configured to control in which geographic area the content can beused based on an area condition included in the usage conditions; atransmission unit configured to transmit a list of the associated datastored in the database in response to the request from the secondapparatus received by the receiving unit, wherein the transmission unittransmits to the second apparatus the list of associated data foracquiring the content from the first apparatus; a billing informationrecording unit configured to record billing information corresponding toa user of the second apparatus for the list of associated datatransmitted to the second apparatus; and a billing process unitconfigured to charge the second apparatus based on the billinginformation recorded in the billing information recording unit when thelist of associated data is transmitted to the second apparatus.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a content recording unit configured to record the content; asecond receiving unit configured to receive a request to check out thecontent from the second apparatus; and a checkout control unitconfigured to check out the content recorded in the content recordingunit to the second apparatus when a checkout of the content isrequested.
 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising: a history recording unit configured to record acheckout history of the content.
 4. The information processing apparatusof claim 2, wherein the list includes a title and checkout duration. 5.A method of exchanging content between an information processingapparatus and a plurality of client devices, comprising: receiving datafrom a first client device via a network, the data is associated with acontent stored in the first client device and identifies a location ofthe content in the first client device, includes descriptive informationof the content, and includes content usage conditions limiting usage ofthe content, but the content is available for checkout to a secondclient device after the second client device establishes a connectionwith a receiving unit via the network, the usage conditions include anarea condition that controls in which geographic area the content can beused, include a number of maximum content checkouts available, and thenumber of maximum checkouts can not be modified after the maximum numberis set; receiving a request from the second client device via thenetwork; recording the associated data and the content in a databasethat includes a user database configured to record a user identifier(ID), which identifies a registered user, and the billing historyassociated with said user ID, and when confirmation of registration of auser is requested, the database determines whether or not the user IDcorresponding to the user has been previously recorded in the userdatabase, if the user is previously registered in the user database,sending a signal indicating that the user is previously registered tothe first apparatus; transmitting a list of associated content stored inthe database in response to the request from the second client device;receiving a checkout request at the first client device from the secondclient device in response to the list of associated data; transmittingthe content corresponding to the associated data from the first clientdevice to the second client device; deleting the content transmitted tothe second client device at the second client device after apredetermined duration; updating the usage conditions of the content atthe time of deletion in the first client device; recording billinginformation corresponding to a user of the second client device for thelist of associated data transmitted to the second client device; andcharging the second client device based on the recorded billinginformation as the list of associated data is provided to the secondclient device.
 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprisingrecording a checkout history of the content.
 7. An informationprocessing system comprising: a server including: a processor; areceiving unit configured to receive data from a first apparatus via anetwork, the data is associated with a content stored in the firstapparatus and identifies a location of the content in the firstapparatus, includes descriptive information of the content, and includescontent usage conditions limiting usage of the content, but the contentis available for checkout to a second apparatus, the content usageconditions include a number of maximum content checkouts available, andthe number of maximum checkouts can not be modified after the maximumnumber is set; the receiving unit configured to receive a request fromthe second apparatus via the network after the second apparatusestablishes a connection with the receiving unit via the network; ausage condition unit configured to control in which geographic area thecontent can be used based on an area condition included in the usageconditions; a recording unit configured to record the associated data ina database that includes a user database configured to record a useridentifier (ID), which identifies a registered user, and the billinghistory associated with said user ID, and when confirmation ofregistration of a user is requested, the database determines whether ornot the user ID corresponding to the user has been previously recordedin the user database, if the user is previously registered in the userdatabase, a signal indicating that the user is previously registered issent to the first apparatus; a transmission unit configured to transmita list of the associated data stored in the database in response to therequest from the second apparatus received by the receiving unit,wherein the transmitting unit transmits to the second apparatus the listof associated data for acquiring the content from the first apparatus; abilling information recording unit configured to record billinginformation corresponding to a user of the second apparatus for the listof associated data transmitted to the second apparatus; and a billingprocess unit configured to charge the second apparatus based on thebilling information recorded in the billing information recording unitwhen the list of associated data is transmitted to the second apparatus;the first apparatus including: a second receiving unit configured toreceive a request to check out the content from the second apparatus; acheckout control unit configured to check out the content located at thefirst apparatus to the second apparatus when a checkout of the contentis requested, the content including a duration of use; and an updatingunit which increments the usage conditions to increment a number ofavailable checkouts after expiration of the duration.
 8. The informationprocessing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the list includes a title andcheckout duration.
 9. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the database further includes a content managementdatabase configured to record content data including a title of a song,a title of an album, and a name of an artist.
 10. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the database furtherincludes a content management database configured to record content dataincluding a title of a song, a title of an album, and a name of anartist.
 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the content usage conditions include a number of portabledevices which can simultaneously use the content.